Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 8, 2024 A Hall of Fame Night A dozen of Saugus High’s best student athletes who excelled in their sport are honored at induction ceremony – including an All-American track star By Mark E. Vogler I t was 12 years ago that a senior member of the Saugus High School track team went to New York City to participate against high school athletes from across the country and came home a Sachem sports legend. “He was only 17 years old. He placed fi fth in the nation in the Triple Jump,” retired Saugus High School Coach Steve Boudreau recalled last Saturday night as he told the packed banquet hall at the Saugus-Everett Elks Lodge #642 about Olisa Obiefuna. “In our opinion, he was the greatest track athlete in the history of Saugus,” said Boudreau, a member of the Saugus High School Hall of Fame Committee. Boudreau called Obiefuna “special” and “a generational track athlete.” “He was born to be a track athlete. He ran fast and jumped high,” he continued. Then he noted the charac425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-7 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM - ID Required Private Parties Private Parties 4-8 p.m. $10.00 8:30-11 p.m. $11. 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM - ID Required 12-9 p.m. $10.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com teristics of the Sachem athlete who became an All-American track star: “Big meet performer. Student of his sport. He watched videos to study his craft. He knew his competitors. Laser focus before competitions. Walking about with his signature pacing in his hooded sweatshirt.” Obiefuna was one of a dozen Sachem student athletes inducted last Saturday night into the Saugus High School Sports Hall of Fame. They were seven men and five women who excelled on Sachem sports teams that competed during parts of four decades. A married couple – Todd Nichols and Ashley Panzini Nichols – were among the elite Sachem athletes honored. Rob Scuzzarella, the all-time leading Saugus High lacrosse scorer who helped lead his team to a state championship, became the fi rst Saugus High lacrosse player to be inducted. The group included a number of multi-sport athletes – several who captained their teams in two or more sports. Several of the athletes led their teams to state championships. Saugus High School Athletic Director Matt Serino had the honor of presenting a Hall of Fame plaque to his twin brother, Craig, who is a former teammate who contributed to two state hockey championships. Matt was inducted into the Hall back in 2018. HALL OF FAME | SEE PAGE 5 A HALL OF FAME LEGACY: Hall of Fame inductee Robert Gannon and his dad, Steve – a Hall of Famer who was inducted in 1988 – hold the jersey that Robert wore as a member of the 2004 Saugus High State Hockey champions. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) “THE GREATEST TRACK ATHLETE IN THE HISTORY OF SAUGUS”: Olisa Obiefuna, one of the 12 former student athletes inducted in the Saugus High School Sports Hall of Fame, was an All-American in the triple jump at Saugus High and at two colleges he later attended. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate)
5 Publizr Home